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How to Treat a Broken Toe

A toe can become severely injured in a variety of ways, with the most common among them being stubbing your toe on the curb while crossing the street, or dropping something heavy on the front of your foot causing a toe to break. Also, the metatarsal bones that make up your toes are quite fragile and susceptible to stress fractures from overuse.

How to tell if your fractured toe is severe:

A less severe toe fracture will probably include the following symptoms:

Intense pain (your toes contain many nerve endings, so even a minor injury can hurt)

Swelling

Bruising of the skin and discolored toenails

Some discomfort when you try to move the toe

A more severe toe fracture should be treated by your foot doctor right away:

Severe pain and an inability to put weight on your toe

The broken toe may be bent in an abnormal position

Numbing may indicate nerve damage

Chills or a fever may be also be a sign of a more severe injury

Bleeding or a protruding bone should obviously be tended to right away

Treatment for a broken toe

A minor toe break will generally improve without too many complications with rest, icing, and elevation. You can tape the toe to an adjoining toe to provide stability while it heals.

A more severe fracture can be treated with a cast or splint.

In severe cases, toe surgery may be needed to remove any bone fragments and to repair any damage with screws and hardware if necessary.

A broken toe will usually heal in a few months. Be sure to introduce activities slowly after the initial healing process to avoid causing the toe to break again.